Let's assume that you committed a crime and you were 99.5 percent certain that you were going to be convicted. Since you've never had so much as a traffic ticket prior to this issue, the judge decides that you can stay home with an ankle monitor while awaiting trial.
You can certainly opt to do the time since you did the crime. However, you look out your window and see the open road, and the only things between you and potential freedom is that device on your ankle and a likelihood that you'll be caught if you go to most places worth going to.
If you're facing a one-night jail sentence, you're probably not going to jump bail and flee. If you're facing the death sentence, it might be worth it to take a shot at building a new life somewhere else with a fake name and social security number. Somewhere in between lies the tipping point between staying and fleeing.
What's the SHORTEST sentence that you would face where you would decide to take your chances hopping on freight trains and working for cash with a floppy-brimmed hat over your face?
Poll coming as soon as the jury returns.
And if you would choose to flee, what would your plan be once you chew off your foot or otherwise remove the ankle bracelet?
Rules clarification:
1. The amounts in your poll are the actual time served. Don't assume that you'll get time off for good behavior to shorten it.
2. Of course, if you get caught fleeing you'll get additional charges and time as appropriate. [Reply]
How likely is it that you could get to Mexico before they catch you? Do the highways have license plate scanners that checks for cars owned by fugitives? Would you be better off walking over to the bus station and getting a bus ticket to someplace like El Paso and walking over? [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
20 yearsbis 20% to 30% your life. Can't put a price on those years. I really dont understand why more people dont bolt. Im not wasting 30% of my life when there is a 90% chance I can live in another country and serve zero of it. Granted I would never put myself in that situation but Id be outta here.
I guess I don't really value family that much. They can come visit me in Colombia if they want. Blows my mind people serve 20 year sentences yet were out on bail/bond temporarily
Originally Posted by Zap Rowsdower:
How likely is it that you could get to Mexico before they catch you? Do the highways have license plate scanners that checks for cars owned by fugitives? Would you be better off walking over to the bus station and getting a bus ticket to someplace like El Paso and walking over?
In the past year, I coincidentally have been in rural area on both the Canadian border and the Mexican border. On the Canadian border in rural Minnesota you could just buy a canoe and cross the river, and it's pretty much 100 percent that you could cross without incident. Of course, getting a job and housing after that would be a challenge.
On the Mexican border in Arizona, there was a notable Border Patrol presence, and where I was, there was a wall of some indeterminate but relatively tall height. I don't know if the Border Patrol would stop someone going south, but if not, a person could get into Mexico. In that area, you'd then want a lot of water because it would be a hike to get to something other than cactus. After that, I don't know how easy it would be to get a job and housing without documentation.
I don't think I'd try crossing at a formal checkpoint. Maybe they'd wave you through if you looked American (sorry, Hispanic guys), but maybe they'd want a passport or something and you'd be either screwed over or turned away. [Reply]
I'm still on the Madagascar and Cambodia train. I think I could realistically live in those countries. Nepal as well. Nepal is nice.
I have a friend who lived in Tunisia for a while and liked it, but I don't think I would ever feel at home in a Muslim country. I think Tunisia is pretty laid back, but it only takes one nutjob extremist with a sword to find yourself beheaded. [Reply]